It is almost time for Patriots football to commence. This Thursday at 7:00 pm, the New England Patriots will face off against the Houston Texans. At this time, it is unclear who will start or sit for the Patriots, but it's safe to assume that the Houston Texans will start with a healthy dose of starters. The team announced today that quarterback and second-overall pick, CJ Stroud, will play in Thursday night's preseason opener. I am going to omit players I believe do not play, such as linebacker-hybrid Marte Mapu, who is still wearing a red non-contact jersey. 

DeMario Douglas, Wide Receiver. 

Douglas has quickly made a name for himself in Foxborough. The rookie sixth-round draft pick has been virtually unguardable in one-on-one reps, dusting everyone who lines up opposite of him. As expected of a sixth-round rookie player, Douglas started training camp out working with the second-team offense but has seen a meteoric rise and now is taking reps with the starting offense. It seems there has been a bit of a rotation of him and Thornton between the first and second teams, and that may be a battle to watch. 

New England is in desperate need of playmakers, and finding a difference-maker, regardless of their draft position, would be significant for this team. The need for someone to emerge is becoming more urgent, especially considering last year's second-round draft pick, Tyquan Thornton, has struggled throughout camp. I would fully expect DeMario Douglas to play in Thursday night's game, barring injury, but that remains speculative. The situation is less clear for Thornton, who has missed time in training camp due to a soft tissue injury.

Kayshon Boutte, Wide Receiver. 

In a sentiment similar to what was mentioned about Douglas, Boutte has recently gained momentum. He began minicamp and training camp without making much noise, but it now appears that he has managed to produce at least one highlight-worthy play in each practice over the last several sessions. He seems to be finding his footing and growing comfortable with the offense. Boutte's draft selection is unique; he was widely regarded as a first-round pick leading up to the 2022 college football season. However, injuries, failure to recapture the magic of his freshman year, and a poor combine performance severely impacted his draft stock.

The Patriots were the team willing to take the risk, drafting Boutte in the sixth round. The team now hopes he can regain his freshman season form and become the elite player he was once viewed as. It will be an uphill battle, but if Boutte continues to string together good practices, the team will need to find a way to keep him in New England—whether that's through the infamous 'Foxboro Flu' or by including him in the 53-man roster. More needs to be done before we can consider his roster status, but the arrows are pointing up for Boutte.

Sidy Sow, Offensive Tackle. 

Another rookie whose development could be imperative to the team's short-term success is Sow. It's never ideal for a team to have to rely on a fourth-round draft pick to be ready to start in their rookie season, but that possibility looms for the Patriots' offensive line. Through eleven practices, the starting offensive line has yet to take the field as a unit. Guard Michael Onwenu is recovering from offseason surgery and is on the PUP list, while center David Andrews and tackle Trent Brown have been given 'management days' to help mitigate the toll a full NFL season takes on players' bodies. Second-year offensive guard Cole Strange suffered a left leg injury and hasn't played in a week. 

If any of those four players were to experience an incident that sidelines them, Sow could find himself thrust into the lineup. He played both guard and tackle positions at Eastern Michigan, showcasing enough versatility to step in at either spot. Whether he can excel is still uncertain, but he's certainly a player to watch closely in Thursday's matchup.

Quick hit names:

Anfernee Jennings, Linebacker/Pass Rush. #33 

Selected in the third round of the 2020 draft, Jennings has had a limited role in his first three seasons and is already 26 years old. If he aims to carve out a role on this team, it's essential for him to kickstart that with a strong preseason

Ronnie Perkins, Linebacker/ Pass Rush. #51

Perkins was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft and has yet to take a single snap in his career. Despite being just 23 years old, he has been relatively quiet throughout camp. Perkins falls into a bit of a 'tweener' category due to his in-between size, which clouds his role on the team. He needs to pick up the pace quickly if the team hopes to cash in on their third-round investment.

Malik Cunningham, Quarterback/Wide Receiver. 

Cunningham is an interesting athlete who fits the mold of the uber-athletic college QBs that the Patriots have historically liked to gamble on. Cunningham is a long shot to make the final 53-man roster, but he offers upside on the scout team to help the team prepare against mobile quarterbacks while continuing to hone his craft as a receiver. It'll be interesting to see if the team sees his future at QB or WR, and if he can do anything in the preseason to build his stock.

Andrew Stueber, Offensive Tackle. #64

Stueber has quickly become a forgotten piece of the 2022 Patriots draft class after tearing his hamstring in late August last year and missing the entire season. Steuber has had bright moments throughout both camps, and his opportunity to earn a roster spot will never increase as the team is starving for talent at tackle. 

Isaiah Bolden, Cornerback.

Bolden, the only player from an HBCU drafted in this past draft, has been sticky in coverage and should see significant reps in the preseason to showcase what he can do. Bolden spent three seasons learning from one of the best defenders to ever do it: cornerback Deion Sanders. He has huge athletic upside; he ran a 4.35 in the 40-yard dash at over 6'2" and 203 lbs.

Pierre Strong Jr, Running Back. 

The Patriots invested a top 150 pick in the uber-explosive Strong just one year ago. It'll be interesting to see if he can create enough confidence in the coaches for them to roll with him as RB2 (behind Rhamondre Stevenson) to start the season.

Kevin Harris, Running Back. 

Another player from last year's draft class, and yet another running back competing for reps on this team. Harris and Strong's skill sets couldn't be any more different. Harris is thicker and far less impressive as an athlete. While athleticism isn't the sole priority, he is facing a steep incline in the uphill battle to make the roster. It'll be interesting to see if he can impress coaches in the more thankless areas, such as pass protection and short-yardage situations.

Featured image via Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports